Despite missing a number of regulars, United had enough in the tank to see off mid-table Mangotsfield who were forced to play over an hour with ten men at the Jubilee Stadium in the Evo-Stik Southern South & West Division. Star striker Adam Mann bagged two more goals to make it 29 for the season and keep United`s play-off hopes mathematically possible. It wasn’t a vintage performance by any means but an improved second half secured the win and moves Paul Collicutt`s side to within five points of fifth placed Swindon Supermarine who were soundly beaten at league leaders Cinderford Town. Preparations for both sides were not ideal before the kick-off, Kevin Sawyer, Linden Dovey, Nick Stanley and Lance Smith were the United absentees, while Mangotsfield arrived with a Maroon kit that was deemed a clash of colours and had to borrow Evesham`s second strip of Blue and White stripes.
Mangotsfield made the early running and could easily have been in front by the time United edged ahead. However, Will Wellon made a well timed last-ditch tackle on Ben Bament after the `Field front man had galloped clear and Ryan Batten headed a couple of Matt Groves` corners too high. The game then changed dramatically in United`s favour when referee Mr Cairns was left in no doubt that last man Batten had pulled back Nathan Modest on 28 minutes and subsequently sent-off the former Gloucester City defender. Mann then stepped-up to curl a delightful free-kick around the wall and into the bottom corner for 1-0. Chances for the rest of the half were thin on the ground, although Mann and the hardworking Ashley Williams did try their luck but neither goalkeeper was called upon to save before the break.
Carl Brown scored second
Although a man down Mangotsfield continued to battle gamely, before United substitute Karnell Chambers tested Kyle Phillips but the Mangotsfield stopper could do nothing to prevent Carl Brown from netting United`s second goal in the 79th minute for his first goal since November following good work by Chambers. United went on to enjoy their best spell in the game and increased their lead to 3-0 four minutes from time. Clayton Green tricked his way down the left before delivering a perfect cross that Mann confidently tucked away past the diving Phillips. By now United were coasting to victory and nearly added a fourth in stoppage-time but Chambers` drive smacked against a post before being cleared. It`s a sixth league double for the Robins and one defeat in 12 games going into the final three weeks of the season.
Collicutt praised his side afterwards, ” We haven`t given up hope of reaching the play-offs, far from it. I`ve been in the game long enough to know that with four games left anything can happen. We struggled to find our feet in the first half but grew stronger the longer the game went on. We`re going into every game believing we can win and we`ll go into the remaining four matches with that approach.”
UNITED: Thompson, Harding, Green, Brown, Sysum, Wellon, Sloggett (Wood 71), Williams, Mann, Modest (Chambers 60), Binns.
Referee: Mr R.Cairns (Bedworth)
Attendance: 246
Pictures here by Stuart Purfield
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